Time Management

We've all experienced "time" for better or worse, its ups and downs, its flexibility
and its constraints. How much of our arguments with time have been self imposed? As
you begin your journey through time, you need to make conscious decisions and design
your own reality. Your future depends on the decisions and actions that you make today.
You need to set goals and decide early to stick to them. Students who are successful
with their studies have clear, defined study skills and use their time wisely. As
a freshman, you have to decide early on what works and what doesn't work for you when
you are scheduling your classes, your study time, your household chore time (including
bill paying) and your social time.

It's important to schedule your activities and manage your time appropriately. To
reduce stress and anxiety created by missing your classes, study dates or important
advising appointments, write everything down on a paper calendar, a bulletin board
with 3x5 index cards, or transfer all of your important dates to a software tool like
Microsoft Outlook. It's recommended that you have three different types of schedules.
One would be your semester-long schedule on which you will plot all of your classes,
labs, tests and papers taken from the course syllabus. Use different color pencils
to mark the different course requirements. You will soon recognize them quickly. Also
have a weekly calendar that hangs in your room over your computer that outlines your
daily class times, your intramural or fitness training, your practices -- and be sure
to include free times to visit with friends. Lastly, keep a daily "to-do list" that
reminds you to keep current with your homework, important calls or doctor appointments.
A successful semester is the result of a well-developed schedule that considers your
long- and short-term goals. It is important that you include the following activities
in your daily planner:

sleeping

eating

studying (include class time)

leisure time (social)

Since everyone has a different cycle for studying, sleeping, eating and leisure time,
it's important that you develop your own plan and -- most importantly -- STICK WITH
IT!

Share your calendar with your roommate. It may not match his or hers, but it will
generate a conversation about priorities and respect for one another.

With developed study-skill tools and effective time management, you will not need
these excuses. You will quickly make the most of your time. Our last piece of advice
-- read through the following tips on making the most of your time while you are a
college student:

Prioritize

Think about your semester, your week and your day. Set realistic goals for each. Focus
on what you would like to accomplish today and keep it at the top of your list. Cross
the items off as you complete them and you'll quickly realize how good it feels to
have accomplished one of your goals.

Protect your time

Missing one party or an outing with a friend is not the end of the world. You will
receive other invitations. Let your friends know early that you have work to do and
you will hook up with them at a later date. Don't feel guilty about saying no. Turn
off your cell phone and avoid taking phone calls as they can be huge distractions.
Do not eat at your desk. Take the time to go to the dining hall for re-fueling.

Create a positive study environment

Eliminate noise and distractions that will interfere with your work. Put a note on
your door asking your friends to come back at a later time and make sure you have
enough light in your working area.

Break down tasks

Don't become overwhelmed with large assignments. Break down your projects into manageable
portions. Reserve time each week to continue working on a segment of the assignment.

Procrastination

Putting things off to the last minute is a terrible habit. Avoid this pitfall. When
you put things off until the last minute, you create stress and chaos in your life.

Concentration

If you tend to daydream, try studying in small blocks of time rather than large periods
of time. If studying for long periods of time, try alternating topics; this will keep
you active and engaged.

Reward

Reward yourself when you've accomplished something that you set out to do. To succeed
in college, allow time management to become a habit. Be honest with yourself when
you're completing your planner. A schedule that is personalized will be an efficient
use of your time.